What is a debit card?

A debit card makes shopping for goods and services a whole lot easier by providing an on-line electronic payment facility from your HSBC Savings / Current Accounts, for purchases of goods and services at merchant establishments in India and overseas. It provides access to ATMs for cash withdrawals and enquiries.

What are the benefits of this debit card?

Your debit card allows you to access up to three HSBC Savings / Current accounts as well as make cash withdrawals, enquiries from:

• Over 23,500 HSBC / VISA / Plus ATMs in India*


• Over 1 million HSBC / VISA / Plus ATMs across the world*

You can also use your debit card to shop, using your card as a payment mechanism instead of cash / cheques at:

• Over 350,000 merchant points of sale in India


• Over 26 million merchant points of sale across the world

How does the debit card work?

Your debit card functions like a regular ATM card at ATMs, whilst at merchant establishments it works in the same way as a credit card, except that the transacted amount is directly debited from your savings/current deposit account.

At merchant establishments you must:

• Look for a VISA / VISA Electron sign at the point-of-sale merchant establishment


• The merchant must have an electronic point-of-sale card-swiping terminal


• Present your debit card after making your purchase


• Present your debit card after making your purchase


• After a successful authorisation, a hold for the transacted amount will first be placed on your account. Subsequently, your account will be debited for the transacted amount


• Check and sign the charge slip. Your signature must match with that on the reverse of the card


• Ensure your card is returned to you

In case of purchase transactions, the debit card can only be used at merchant outlets with electronic terminals. Please do not try and use your card at Merchants with "paper imprinters".
Also, since signature verification is essential for debit card transactions, you need to be physically present along with your card at the time of purchase i.e. the debit card cannot be used for Mail order, Telephone order or Internet transactions.

How do I activate my debit card?

For safety reasons, your debit card is sent to you inactive for use at merchant locations. Please ensure that you receive your PIN before trying to activate your card. To activate your card, you would need to do either of the following:

1. Use the card at an ATM, by entering the PIN


2. Make a Phone Banking PIN verified call to the HSBC Phone Banking / Customer Service representatives in your city to confirm the receipt of the debit card, and they will activate the card

If you wish to register for Internet Banking using your Debit Card & ATM PIN, the Debit Card will need to be activated using option 1 above. If debit card is activated using option 2 above, you can register for Internet Banking by using any one of the combinations below:

• Your 10 digit Personal Banking Number (PBN), and your 6 digit Phone Banking PIN; or


• Your credit card number and credit card ATM PIN; or


• Your existing ATM card number and ATM PIN.

Can I have an additional card?

Yes, up to 2 additional debit cards may be issued to joint account holders of the account provided that the operating instructions for the account are 'any one or survivor'.

How many accounts can I link on my debit card?

Up to 3 Current / Savings accounts may be linked to your debit card. Only the funds available in your primary account will be utilized when making purchases at merchant outlets.

Am I eligible to apply for a debit card?

Resident/Non-Resident Individuals (excluding minors) holding SmartMoney/Savings /Current accounts with HSBC India, either held singly or jointly on a 'either or surviver' basis, may apply for a debit card.

NRIs may however only apply for a debit card on their NRE Accounts and domestic debit cards are also issued to designated Power of Attorney holders on such accounts

*A transaction fee is applicable for withdrawals from any ATM outside India. All cash withdrawals overseas must be strictly in accordance with the Exchange Control Regulations of the Reserve Bank of India. The aggregate expenses (i.e. through cash/traveller's cheques/your bank accounts) should not exceed the limit set by RBI, as prevailing from time to time.

International debit cards cannot be used for purchase of prohibited items e.g. lottery tickets, banned or proscribed magazines, football pools, racing/riding tickets, participation in sweepstakes, payment of call-back services etc. If in doubt please contact the Bank for clarification.